Vicki Phillips, an alumna of the University of Lincoln, UK, who has helped to improve the lives of countless children across the United States of America, has been named as a winner in the British Council Alumni Awards 2017.

The prestigious awards, now in their third year, celebrate the outstanding achievements of international graduates of British universities and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education around the world.

The US winners of the British Council Alumni Awards 2017 were announced today (31st March 2017). Vicki Phillips won the award in the Social Impact category for her exceptional contribution to creating positive social change and improving the lives of others.

Having completed an EdD Educational Leadership programme at the University of Lincoln in 2002, she returned to the institution in 2010 when she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate.

Since leaving Lincoln, Vicki has gone on to serve as a District Superintendent of Schools and State Minister of Education in the state of Pennsylvania, USA, where she led educational reform to benefit all children and raise achievement levels.

Most recently Vicki served as the Director of Education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where, alongside her team, she developed and executed the largest philanthropic investment in US education, worth over $2.8 billion.

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, said: “We are incredibly proud of Vicki and everything she has gone on to achieve since completing her studies here in 2002.

“As a University committed to promoting the transformative power of education, it is particularly pleasing that one of our graduates has gone on to be recognised for her own outstanding work in the field, breaking down social barriers and creating opportunities for all.”

Reflecting on her time in Lincoln and how it prepared her for her career, Vicki said: “The combination of rigorous coursework, practical application and an international perspective drew me to the University of Lincoln initially, but it was the innovative approach to leadership challenges, the encouragement of risk-taking and the knowledge of the world that made it different to other university experiences.

“The multiple lenses on leadership gave me a foundation for confidently tackling the leadership opportunities that have come my way and has enabled me to consistently step into significantly more impactful roles and achieve results in even the most challenging of circumstances.”